Replacement Jerry Yates converted a stop-time penalty to earn a dramatic 1-1 draw in Norwich and to put an end to a series of seven consecutive championships in the process.
Norwich seemed to be on his way to a third consecutive victory and a place in the play-off zone, when Josh Sargent scored his fourth goal in three games to put them in the front halfway through the second period.
But the rams, who separated the previous day with manager Paul Warne, continued to fight and received their reward when Marcus Harness was brought down in the area and Yates kept his cool to earn a precious point under care boss Matt Hamshaw.
Neither keeper had a difficult salvation to make in a boring first half, so that Derby struggled more than to keep its own against a mis -falling home team.
The only moments of real excitement came early when both parties had excluded goals due to tight offside decisions in the space of just over a minute.
Derby thought they had taken the lead when Lars morning Salvesen turned the cross of Ben Osborn up close, but their joy was eradicated when the flag rose.
It was a similar story in the next attack when Lewis Dobbin held a ball over the top before he produced a neat finish.
Norwich had to increase their game after the break and, while increasing the pace, Sargent was removed from getting a decisive touch when Callum Doyle led the ball back in the danger area.
Sargent then tested goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom with a fierce first ride that the Swede did well to parry away.
A goal came and it eventually arrived in the 68th minute when an excellent exchange of passes of Derby's resistance broke.
Lucien Mahovo Sargent saw the move and he played a nice one-two with Emiliano Marcondens before converting himself in a emphatic way.
Norwich looked on course for a heavily fought victory until the rams from the blue made it right from the penalty spot.
Jack Stacey was punished for catching harness in the head while trying to crochet the ball clearly and Yates sent Angus Gunn in the wrong direction from the place to earn a long background.
The managers
Johannes Hoff Thorup van Norwich:
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Derby's:
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